Customer Reviews

Black Country Communion (CD/DVD)

5 star:		(57)
4 star:		(25)
3 star:		(9)
2 star:		(14)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

This is a great first album. The musicianship and song execution deserve a five. The strength of the songs and lyrics varies a lot more and I would give a four on average. Some of the lyrics feel like their really reaching to fill in some blanks (freak flag fly, mojo, etc...) but overall pretty good. The basic tracks were recorded in four days mostly "live in studio" and I think that adds to the feel in a good way. Unlike the other reviewer I really like Glenn Hughes vocals, especially on the rock-ier stuff as he has an edge that few vocalists get. I'm sure there will be "Dio" comparisons both favorable and unfavorable but he really has his own voice and they were peers. Joe sings lead on several songs as well. I have to admit I saw Trapeze in the Cotton Bowl in '75 and I thought they were better than the Stones, Eagles and Montrose that day, so you can count me as a long time fan. I also must confess that I have been following Joe since 2003 and I'm a huge fan there as well with all albums and I see him every time he's in Colorado. Jason is an amazing drummer and Derek Sherinian is excellent on keyboards although not as present in all of the mixes as the others, which tends to happen with keys in guitar oriented blues-rock bands.

The opening track "Black Country" comes out with all guns blazing and could be the hardest rocker. I loved it instantly, which rarely happens. Most of the rest are mid-paced rockers. Stand out tracks to me are "One Last Soul", "Beggarman" (which has a very interesting string bending riff), "Song of Yesterday" and "Medusa". I have had it a week and listened several times and feel like it has grown on me with each listen. I can easily listen to the album all the way through, which is more than I can say about many album purchases that only have one or two songs that I like.

I typically don't put much stock in music reviews and rarely post my own but felt compelled to comment on the new BCC effort. It's perfectly fine to not like something but I think some of the reviews are really off the mark. Some of the comments such as how this is a "half-cocked effort", "the guitars blare (out of sync), that "All aspects of this effort are less than mediocre" and "there literally is no redeeming quality to this outing" are completely off base. The guitars blare and are out of synch? No redeeming quality? I think most comments of this nature are coming from Joe fans who don't like seeing him stretch out his wings in new territory and as such are harshly biased.

The reason in a nut shell that I like this CD is because I'm a classic rock fan at heart (although I'm also a fan of blues, metal and some jazz) and this has the unique ability of sounding like it might have come from the 70's yet at the same time feels fresh. It's 70's classic rock 2010 style. The musicianship in this band is phenomenal given the short amount of time they've been together. A perfect illustration is "Song of Yesterday" where there are many tempo changes with each member adding his distinct flavor without stepping on the toes of the other band members. This song really has great emotion and is my current favorite but it certainly isn't the only one that displays the excellent band cohesion. Most CDs today I'll listen through several times and eventually will cherry pick the most listenable ones. This CD however has legs from start to finish and is solid throughout.

Pick up a copy and be your own judge. I'm willing to bet the vast majority will like it. If not that's fine but I can guarantee you that this is certainly not a "half-cocked effort" or "out of synch".

"I am a messenger, this is my prophecy..." A bold statement of intent if ever there was one, and a lyric from the opening track on the new self-titled album by supergroup Black Country Communion. The album, Black Country Communion, due out September 20th in the UK and September 21st in the US, is definitely bold--in fact, it's the strongest new album release I've heard in two years. But when your band consists of the legendary Glenn Hughes (bass & vocals), blues/rock prodigy Joe Bonamassa (guitar and vocals), Led Zeppelin legacy Jason Bonham (drums), and Dream Theater, Kiss, and Alice Cooper alumni Derek Sherinian (keyboards), a strong, bold new album is almost certainly assured.

Produced by none other than Kevin "Caveman" Shirley (Iron Maiden, Led Zeppelin, and Black Crowes among others), the album sounds as it should... a raw, live-in-the-studio sound that hasn't been heard since the mid-seventies. And while this album certainly harkens back to those wonderful classic days of yore, make no mistake, Black Country Communion is a breath of fresh air! It's not overly-polished, it allows room for light and dark, and it's not afraid to let its musicians stretch out and jam, and in today's world of over-produced, bland, soulless fare, this album pulls way ahead of the pack.

Performances are tight but loose, often driving and forceful, powered along by Bonham's steam hammer drumming and Hughes' heavy yet fluid bass lines. Bonamassa, as in his solo material, continues to amaze, pulling out massive riffs, soulful blues licks, and incredible guitar solos that will blister the paint on the walls. Sherinian works his magic in a somewhat understated way, providing textures and moods, but occasionally taking the spotlight while Hughes' world-renowned vocals soar above it all. The band is tight and fit together just as smoothly as whiskey and soda, sounding as if they've been playing together for years, and although the performances are tight, the songs sound loose and comfortable, as if they were done live in the studio in one or two takes.

Black Country Communion starts off strong with the title track, forceful rock and roll with a locomotive bass line, loose and dirty blues licks, and blazing guitar solos, and never lets up from there. "One Last Soul" is the first single from the album, already the most requested song on the UK's premier Classic Rock radio station, Planet Rock, and is catchy enough to have you tapping your foot and digging the funky, soulful chorus. By way of contrast, "Down Again" is a heavy, riff-based rhythm machine powered by Joe Bonamassa's grinding guitar and the 16-ton weight of the Bonham and Hughes rhythm machine working to nail the song to the floor. Derek Sherinian shines on this one, employing organ-based keys to provide a hypnotic outro that absolutely mesmerizes. "Beggarman" is another straight rocker, a hard blues guitar intro leading into a riff as the organ and bass join in to drive the song. Jason Bonham shines here, beating and kicking the drums like an animal.

But while the band certainly rocks hard, they are equally adept at playing with light and shade. "Sista Jane" starts with a kick-in-the-head opening, but changes to a light, quiet verse with acoustic guitar, which then builds in intensity into a chorus that will have you banging your head old-school style! "No Time" boogies right along as if there really is no time before it breaks into a moody "Kashmir-esque," eastern-flavored keyboard melody, allowing for a change of mood and pace before building once again into its kick-ass chorus. The band's cover of the Trapeze classic, "Medusa," gives the band some breathing room as well, opening as it does with slow acoustic guitar and restrained vocals before they crank it up to 11 and the song becomes heavier than the stone into which Medusa's gaze can render you. Bonamassa rips into the rhythm with obvious relish, a strong monster groove that is held down by a massive bass and drum combo while Glenn's vocals soar like an eagle over this majestic track. The raw, blistering guitar solo affirms Joe Bonamassa's reputation as a living-legend guitar god, his guitar tearing away with whirlwind speed, echoing like a lonely cry in the wilderness. This song not only affirms the band's Black Country roots, but it sounds right at home on this album.

Two songs especially give the band room to move around and jam a bit; the eight minute, thirty-three second "Song of Yesterday," and the eleven minute, nineteen second "Too Late for the Sun." There aren't many bands these days confident enough to put long-running tracks on an album that allow the musicians to stretch out a bit, improvise, and jam, but Black Country Communion gives us two long-runners and they prove to be worth the risk. "Too Late for the Sun" is a remarkable piece, Sherinian's organ providing a nice sonic texture, and the band jamming along like so many bands are afraid to do these days.

Black Country Communion showcases the talents of four amazing artists, and the combination of these four talents makes for one hell of a great album! Glenn Hughes rolls out huge, thumping bass lines and turns in a vocal performance that proves why the man is a rock legend. Joe Bonamassa, young though he may be, plays guitar with the passion of an old soul and shines like few other guitarists on the scene today. Jason Bonham is an absolute drum powerhouse, playing with a ferocity that blazes, and along with Glenn's bass, is the unstoppable engine for this band. Derek Sherinian is artful in the textures and moods he creates--he shows tasteful restraint, but steps forward when needed. Delivering twelve solid tracks of bold, old-school rock and roll, Black Country Communion stands out as a masterpiece and an instant classic!

Brent Soileau
Deep Purple Hub

I learned about this record because I'm a big JB fan and boy and I glad that this band has put out a record. It's simply one of the best hard rock records that I've heard in a good while. I hate to admit it, but I wasn't all that familiar with the singer/bass player Glenn Hughes but man can this guy wail. After listening to this record a few times, I can see how this guy simply must have had a great influence on singers like Chris Cornell, only Glenn is doing it way better than Chris these days that's for sure. Let's certainly not forget that Jason Bonham is on drums here as well as Derek Sherinian on keys. Needless to say, these guys are professionals and have a very nice chemistry. If I didn't know better I would swear these guys have been playing together for years and maybe they have behind closed doors for all I know.

Each one of these songs will make an impact. I just hope that they're going to do a little touring to support this group so that they will give us more in the future.

It seemed like a great idea when Joe first mentioned he was putting together a band with Glenn Hughes, Jason Bonham, and Derek Sherinian. Glad it paid off six months later! The music starts off very fast in the first song, but calms down during the rest of the album. Don't get me wrong though, a lot of the songs are still fast, but if you just listened to the first one, it gives you a false impression of the whole album. Glenn sings about 75% of the songs here, but the songs with Joe and Glenn are definite standouts, along with the single "One Last Soul" and "The Great Divide." Speaking of "The Great Divide," the DVD portion includes a studio performance of this song, and two soundboard quality videos of the concert in Riverside, CA where he first brought out Glenn Hughes. The version of "Mistreated" is amazing, and now replaces my old favorite version of this song from the Rainbow album "On Stage." This release was timed perfectly to coincide with Joe's upcoming tour in November after his European stop. Hopefully, he will include some songs from this album on his setlist, (and maybe bring Glenn along again as a special guest). Here's to this band staying together for at least five years. I know Glenn is up there in age, but most other singers from the 70's really have lost it nowadays, so hopefully this project can round out Glenn's career while helping Joe to another milestone in his amazing career so far at 33 years of age! Congratulations to everyone involved on this project, but it really could have only worked with people like Bonamassa and Hughes at the helm. Take any other virtuoso guitarist and most of the other ego-driven singers of yesteryear, and they wouldn't have been able to pull this off. Joe Bonamassa, Glenn Hughes, Jason Bonham, and Derek Sherinian are all class acts.

Bought this album soon after the release , love it . The more I listen to it the better it gets. On another note I pre-ordered BCC-2 and to my surprise when I checked the mail Monday June 6th it was in the box a full week before the release date. If you liked the first one you will surely like the second one.

For a moment while listening to this album I thought I was back in the 70's. Deep Purple comes to mind especially the bluesier side of them. This album not only has the players but also has great songs, which some super groups don't.

What else really needs to be said, all four of these guys are full of talent and sound like they are really enjoying themselves. I won't go into detail about each track as others have already done that more eloquently than I ever could but I will say in my opinion this is the best rock album to come out in the last few years. Everytime I listen to it, it just seems to get better.

If you like classic rock and blues you can't go wrong here.

I'm not one to offer my opinions much when it comes to music because it is so subjective. I listen to just about anything that's played and produced well, and my tastes are quite eclectic. However, as I turn 50 this year I have been particularly reminiscent about the music of my younger days, going back to listen and enjoy the stuff that turned me on and inspired me. Most of today's new music lacks authenticity and is so cash/market-driven. Discovering Joe Bonamassa about 6 years ago was like finding a diamond in a haystack. He was (and remains) a remarkable, refreshing musician and an amiable, approachable, genuine human being. So when I came across this release here on Amazon, I knew it was going to be a keeper... I will refrain from reviewing track by track because everyone has aptly covered that here. However, there are a few things worth mentioning. First, the assembly of players here (incl. Kevin Shirley) and the legacy they bring to this project is remarkable. The Trapeze "Medusa" album remains one of my first treasured rock albums - I was 11 years old when it was given to be by a teenage musician/ neighbor. Glenn Hughes' voice is incredible here. In fact, I think I like his voice better now than ever; with the onset of age and life's seasoning, he sounds more impassioned than ever, and I can tell he is truly loving this gig. I am glad to see an artist like him having such a great opportunity to get back to his roots with enormous enthusiasm... Joe Bonamassa is searing throughout. I can imagine him praticing as a kid with some vintage recordings, seeing his dad walk in with a record and saying "Hey, work on this song little Joe. It's called Medusa." For a kid that was playing Voodoo Chile when he was only nine, a project like this must take him back to why he fell in love with music in the first place. (As for this album, my jaw drops everytime I hear him tear thru that wicked lead in 'Beggaman'. Just phenomenal.)... Jason Bonham has turned into a veritable freight train in his own right. His drumming is absolutely killer. We're all still haunted by the legacy of his father, but that just adds fuel to the chemistry of this band. Wonderful... Derek Sherinian brings to the table, of course, his flawless contributions to Dream Theater. Although somewhat understated in this recording, he is massive in his own right and I'm sure he'll be cutting loose in live performances and more of his influence will find its way into future mixes... My ONLY critique is that there are a few too many songs. In my opinion a few tracks come off as having either been afterthoughts or B tracks. But that's just my taste; the other tracks are so completely solid and make up for any tracks that may feel less stellar. Hey, I'll take whatever I can get from these guys! BCC has been a real fist-pumping treat for me. Can't wait for BCC 2 and maybe a chance to see them live.

There's a reason why Glenn Hughes is referred to as the voice of rock and this disc once again shows us why. As a lifelong guitarist myself, Joe Bonamassa shreds with intensity and delight. The opening track comes out with a force to be reckoned with. An all-star cast with Bonham and Sherinian. I cannot wait to hear their next outing and this is what rock n roll is all about. Raw, intense, and soul stirring. Thanks guys for rocking the way it should be done. Buy this cd, you won't be disappointed and if you are, you just don't like good ol' raw rock n roll...

IF YOU HAVEN'T HEARD THIS DISC YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOUR MISSING!!!!!!! NOT ONLY IS THIS KILLER MATERIAL IT ALSO CONTAINS SOME OF THE MOST INCREDIBLE MUSICIANS OUT THERE TODAY. A TOUCH OF MATURITY W/ GLENN HUGHES ON VOCALS,BASS AND THE GREATEST GUITAR TALENT SINCE THE LATE GREAT STEVIE RAY VAUGHAN!!11 I MEAN JOE BONAMASSA,THIS GUY IS JUST AWESOME. CAN PLAY ALL STYLES AND STILL SOUND GOOD. THEN ADD JASON BONHAM ON THE DRUMS WHAT MORE CAN YOU SAY. SON OF A HALL OF FAMER. BUY THIS I DID ITS A CLASSIC IN THE MAKING BOTH HARD AND BLUESY.